Clamping device

ABSTRACT

A clamping device for releasably clamping an article to a perforated board. The device comprises a vertically elongated clasp member having rearwardly extending integral pivot means intermediate its upper end and lower end, and a resilient support member engaging the clasp member between the lower end and pivot means thereof. The support member is detachably secured to a perforated board through the perforations in the board and maintains the clasp member in a clasping position with the lower end and pivot means in biased contact against the board and with the upper end in spaced relation to the board. The resiliency of the support member permits the lower end of the clasp member to pivot away from the board to an unclasping position when a force is applied against the upper end of the clasp member toward the board, and to automatically return to its clasping position when the force is removed.

United States Patent 1 Zimpleman 51 Jan. 16,1973

1541 CLAMPING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Marion D. Zimpleman, 814 Wildwood Drive, Kokomo, Ind. 46901 [22] Filed: May 14, 1971 211 App]. No.: 143,476

[52] US. Cl ..24/67.5, 248/DIG. 3 [51] Int. Cl. .342! 1/00 [58] Field of Search.....108/43;-248/DIG. 3; 24/67 R,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 700,286 11/1953 GreatBritain ..24/67.5

Primary Examiner-Donald A. Grifiin Attorney-Herman, Davidson and Herman T57] ABSTRACT A clamping device for releasably clamping an article to a perforated board. The device comprises a vertically elongated clasp member having rearwardly extending integral pivot means intermediate its upper end and lower end, and a resilient support member engaging the clasp member between the lower end and pivot means thereof. The support member is detachably secured to a perforated board through the perforations in the board and maintains the clasp member in a clasping position with the lower end and pivot means in biased contact against the board and with the upper end in spaced relation to the board. The resiliency of the support member permits the lower end of the clasp member to pivot away from the board to an unclasping position when a force is applied against the upper end of the clasp member toward the board, and to automatically return to its clasping position when the force is removed.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures This invention relates to a clamping device and, more particularly, to a device designed for releasably clamping various objects and articles to a perforated board.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a clamping device for use in combination with a perforated board for releasably clamping various objects and articles to the board.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping device, having the above-described characteristics, wherein the article being clamped to the board can be easily removed and replaced without removing the clamping device from the perforated board.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamping device, having the above-described characteristics, which can be readily removed from and as readily replaced in different perforations of a supporting perforated board.

Still another object object of the invention is to provide a clamping device, having the abovedescribed characteristics, which can be locked in place on the perforated board.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamping device, having the above-described characteristics, which is simple in construction and easy to use, and which has component parts which are easy and economical to manufacture, assemble and disassemble.

The clamping device of the present invention comprises a vertically elongated clasp member having rearwardly extending integral pivot meansintermediate its upper end and its lower end, and a generally U-shaped resilient support member having a substantially horizontal bar portion engaging the clasp member between its lower end and the pivot means. The vertical leg portions of the support member are detachably secured to a perforated board of the type having multiple perforations opening through its front and rear faces by means of a clip inserted through the perforations in the board. The resiliency of the support mem ber maintains the clasp member in a clasping position with the lower end and pivot means of the clasp member in biased contact against the board and with the upper end of the clasp member in spaced relation to the board, and also permits the lower end of the clasp member to pivot away'from the board to an unclasping position when a force is applied against the upper end of the clasp member toward the board, and to automatic ally return to its clasping position when the force is removed. I

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clamping device of the present invention mounted on a conventional perforated board;

FIG. 2 is a sectionalview taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 isv a front perspective view of the support member component of the clamping device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the clip component of the clamping device of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the clip component of the clamping device of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the clasp member component of the clamping device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally indicates the clamping device of the present invention, which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being mounted upon a conventional perforated board 12 having a plurality of evenly spaced perforations 14 therethrough.

The clamping device 10 comprises a vertically elongated clasp member 16 having a front face 18, a rear face 20, an upper end 22 and a lower end 24. Extending rearwardly from the rear face 20, intermediate the upper end 22 and the lower end 24, is an integral wedge-shaped pivot means 26, having a downwardly and rearwardly extending face 28 and an upwardly and rearwardly extending face 30 which intersect to form a pivot 32. The front face 18 is provided with a horizontally extending groove 34 between the lower end 24 and pivot means 26. The clasp member 16 may be formed of any suitable rigid material such as plastic, wood, metal, or the like. v

The clasp member 16 is held against the perforated board 12 by means of a generally U-shaped resilient support member 36 having a substantially horizontal bar portion 38 which fits within the groove 34 on the front face 18 of the clasp member 16, and a pair of substantially parallel vertical leg portions 40 extending upwardly from the horizontal bar portion 38 and terminating in rearwardly extending free ends 42 which protrude through a pair of perforations 14 in the perforated board 12. The support member 36 is preferably formed ofa springy metal, but may also be formed of a resilient plastic material.

The support member 36 is secured to the perforated board 12 by means of a detachable clip 44, which may suitablybe formed of metal or plastic. As best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the clip 44 comprises an integral member having a pair of generally U-shaped portions 46, each with an outer leg 48, a base 50, and an inner leg 52. The inner legs 52 are joined together by means of an inverted U-shaped central portion 54. Eachof the outer legs 48 is connected by means of a bend 56, to a rearwardly extending portion 58, and

each rearwardly extending portion 58 is connected by means of a bend 60 toa downwardly extending rear 'leg 62. With the rearwardly extending portions 58 protrudf ing through a pair of perforations l4 in the perforated board 12, and the rear legs 62. engaging the rear face of the perforated board 12, the bases 50, the outer legs 48 and the rearwardly extending portions58of the clip 44 embrace the verticallegs 40 of the :support member 36 so as to securely fasten them against the front face of the perforated board 12.

The clamping device 10 of the present invention may be readily assembled on the perforated board 12 which, if desired, may already be hanging on a suitable wall, door, or the like. The support member 36 is first positioned on the board with its rearwardly'extending free ends 42 protruding througha pair of perforations 14 in the board. The clip 44 is then held by the inverted U- shaped central portion 54 thereof with said central portion extending forwardly away from the front face of the perforated board 12 and the rear legs 62 extending rearwardly toward the front face of the board. The rear legs 62 are positioned around the outside of the vertical legs 40 of the support member 36 adjacent their upper ends and inserted into a second pair of perforations 14 in the board. The central portion 54 of the clip is then turned upwardly and rearwardly into a vertically extending position against the front face of the board, causing the rearwardly extending portions 58 of the clip to revolve into position protruding through the perforations l4 and causing the rear legs 62 of the clip to revolve into a downwardly extending position against the rear face of the board, thereby locking the clip 44 and the support member 36 onto the board. The clasp member 16 is then held by its upper end 22, and its lower end 24 is inserted downwardly underneath the horizontal bar portion 38 of the support member 36 until the horizontal bar snaps into position within the groove 34. The clamping device is then in its completely assembled ready-to-use form, locked in place on the perforated board, as shown in F168. 1 and 2.

With the clamping device in its thus assembled form, the resiliency of the support member 36 maintains the clasp member 16 in a clasping position with the lower end 24 and the pivot 32 in biased contact against the board 12 and with the upper end 22 in spaced relation to the board. When a force is applied against the upper end 22 toward the board, the lower end 24 is caused to pivot away from the board around the pivot 32 to an unclasping position. When the force is removed from the upper end 22, the resiliency of the support member 36 causes the lower end to automatically pivot back against the board to its clasping position. in this manner, various articles and objects, such as papers, posters, towels, clothing, merchandise to be displayed, and the like, can be securely clamped against the board and readily released therefrom when desired, without removing the clamping device from the board.

The clamping device of the present invention has the advantageous feature of being capable of being readily disassembled and removed from and readily replaced in different perforations of a supporting perforated board. To disassemble the device, the clasp member 16 is first slid upwardly out of its engagement beneath the horizontal bar 38 of the support member 36. The inverted U-shaped central portion 54 of the clip 44 is then turned downwardly and forwardly awayfrorn the board, causing the rearwardly extending portions 58 of the clip to-be removed from the perforations l4 and causing the rear legs 62 of the clip to revolve into a readily removable position. With the clip 44 removed from the board, the support member 36 may also be readily removed therefrom.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described certain specific embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamping device for releasably clamping an article to a perforated board of the type having multiple perforations opening through front and rear faces thereof, comprising a vertically elongate clasp member having an upper end, a lower end, and rearwardly extending integral pivot means intermediate its ends, a resilient support member engaging said clasp member between said lower end and said pivot means, clip means for detachably securing said support member to said perforated board through the perforations in said board so as to maintain said clasp member in a clasping position with said lower end and said pivot means in biased contact against said board and with said upper end in spaced relation to said board, whereby said lower end is caused to pivot away from said board to an unclasping position when a force is applied against said upper end toward said board and to automatically return to its clasping position when said force is removed, said support member being generally U- shaped with a substantially horizontal bar portion engaging said clasp member, a pair of substantially parallel vertical leg portions extending upwardly from said bar portion, said clip means comprising an integral member embracing both leg portions of said support member adjacent their upper ends.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said leg portions terminate in rearwardly extending free ends protrudable through a pair of said perforations insaid board.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said clasp member is provided with a horizontally extending groove between said lower end and said pivot means, and said bar portion of said support member is received within said groove.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said clip member includes a pair of rearwardly extending portions protrudable through a pair of said perforations in said board, and a pair of downwardly extending leg portions connected to the rear ends of said rearwardly extending portions and engagable with the rear face of said board.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said clip member includes a pair of U-shaped portions connected to the forward ends of said rearwardly extending portions for holding said leg portions of said support member against the front face of said board.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said U-shaped portions of said clip member are connected together by means of an inverted U-shaped central portion. 

1. A clamping device for releasably clamping an article to a perforated board of the type having multiple perforations opening through front and rear faces thereof, comprising a vertically elongate clasp member having an upper end, a lower end, and rearwardly extending integral pivot means intermediate its ends, a resilient support member engaging said clasp member between said lower end and said pivot means, clip means for detachably securing said support member to said perforated board through the perforations in said board so as to maintain said clasp member in a clasping position with said lower end and said pivot means in biased contact against said board and with said upper end in spaced relation to said board, whereby said lower end is caused to pivot away from said board to an unclasping position when a force is applied against said upper end toward said board and to automatically return to its clasping position when said force is removed, said support membeR being generally U-shaped with a substantially horizontal bar portion engaging said clasp member, a pair of substantially parallel vertical leg portions extending upwardly from said bar portion, said clip means comprising an integral member embracing both leg portions of said support member adjacent their upper ends.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said leg portions terminate in rearwardly extending free ends protrudable through a pair of said perforations insaid board.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said clasp member is provided with a horizontally extending groove between said lower end and said pivot means, and said bar portion of said support member is received within said groove.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said clip member includes a pair of rearwardly extending portions protrudable through a pair of said perforations in said board, and a pair of downwardly extending leg portions connected to the rear ends of said rearwardly extending portions and engagable with the rear face of said board.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said clip member includes a pair of U-shaped portions connected to the forward ends of said rearwardly extending portions for holding said leg portions of said support member against the front face of said board.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said U-shaped portions of said clip member are connected together by means of an inverted U-shaped central portion. 